Common Ground Research Networks Signs Publishers Compact on the UN Sustainable Development Goals

Champaign, Illinois – Common Ground Research Networks (Not-for-Profit) is proud to be a signatory to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Publishers Compact. Launched in collaboration with the International Publishers Association, the compact “features 10 action points that publishers, publishing associations, and others can commit to undertaking in order to accelerate progress to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Signatories aspire to develop sustainable practices and act as champions of the SDGs, publishing books and journals that will help inform, develop and inspire action in that direction.”

Hugo Setzer, President, International Publishers Association: “Publishers can play such an important role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through the books we publish but we must also look at our business practices and contribute in our own right. This compact gives publishers the
opportunity to mark their commitment with clear targets for them to aim for.”

Melissa Fleming, Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, United Nations: “With the Decade of Action now underway, we are looking to build a coalition of partners to help us identify and accelerate sustainable solutions to the world’s biggest challenges. That’s why we at the United Nations are excited to know that the publishing industry is becoming part of this global movement. This Compact is a welcome initiative and one we hope will showcase innovative ideas from a sector that has a critical role to play in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.”

Phillip Kalantzis Cope, Chief Social Scientist, Common Ground Research Networks: “We believe that scholarly communication is a critical infrastructure on which society depends. We are committed to aligning our agenda to the Sustainable Development Goals, to frame our approach to designing digital and in-person architectures of communication, social interaction, and formal knowledge-making that are resilient, democratic, equitable, and sustainable. For this, we believe there is no time to wait.”